Parliament to investigate procurement of luxury jet used by Deputy President William Ruto

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

KENYA: Parliament has summoned top Government officials over the controversy surrounding the procurement of a luxury jet used by Deputy President William Ruto in May on an Africa tour.

Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo, Registrar of companies and Secretary of Administration in Ruto’s office Abdul Mwaserrah are to appear before MPs on Tuesday. The three are to shed light on the procurement of the jet and circumstances under which the documents on the hiring of the jet disappeared.

The registrar in particular will help the Ababu Namwamba-led PAC to unearth the directors of a local company that was involved in the procurement.

Ruto and his delegation flew in the jet to West Africa and Central Africa countries of Nigeria, Congo, Gabon and Ghana in May this year with claims that the trip cost the taxpayers Sh100 million. However, the Office of Deputy President later provided documents to prove that they paid about Sh18.5 million to the jet company.

Dennis Kariuki, a director at Auditor General’s office wrote to Parliament saying it was not possible to ascertain the cost of hiring the jet after leaves from a chequebook used went missing. Also missing are two local service orders used to hire the aircraft from Vistajet Company.

Tuesday, the PAC was told President Uhuru invoked the Executive Order in hiring of the plane that took Ruto and his team on the tour. The committee is investigating circumstances under which the plane was hired, and how much was paid by the Government.